Three guilty over Christmas Day stabbing

A VICIOUS knifeman has been jailed for eight years after an horrific Christmas Day stabbing spree in a restaurant. Two of Stephen Cleworth's victims were knifed in the stomach. Another was slashed across the face.

The three victims, men aged 21, 22 and 23, had been out in Middleton on Christmas Eve for drinks with their girlfriends.

At about 1am on December 25 last year, the group went to the Akash Indian Restaurant in Market Place.

They were sitting at their table when Smith burst in.

Smith thought the group had been involved in an earlier altercation with him.

Cleworth followed him in, armed with a knife.

Life-threatening

He slashed the 21-year-old across the face and the victim ran out of the restaurant. The two victims left inside were both subjected to a life-threatening attack.

Cleworth stabbed the 23-year-old in the stomach, causing him to collapse inside the restaurant. He also stabbed the 22-year-old in the stomach, upper body and neck. This man staggered out of the restaurant, but collapsed 500 yards away.

Rowley was also seen at the entrance of the restaurant, and had been with Cleworth and Smith.

The victims aged 22 and 23 were taken to hospital in a critical condition. The 22-year-old suffered serious injuries to his internal organs, and spent three weeks in hospital. He remains unwell. The 23-year-old needed emergency surgery and is recovering at home.

Det Con Nick Price said: "This was a vicious, horrific attack that was entirely unprovoked. It is tragic that these men were the victims of mistaken identity.

"The victims' Christmas became a traumatic experience, and it has been a difficult recovery.

"Cleworth is a particularly violent individual who subjected two of the men to a relentless attack. He is today where he belongs - behind bars."